What part of the USA would you prefer to live in?

I actually kind of dig it here in Atlanta. Yeah, it can be a mess sometimes, but I've been here so long that at least it's a familiar mess, and I know what to expect.

I really enjoyed my family's reunion (we don't go "home", we take trips together instead) in the central coast of CA. We stayed in Pasa Robles. Landed in San Jose, drove down the PCH, did the winery tours, I finally got my first dip in the Pacific, and drove up to Laguna Seca, just to see it. If I was rich enough to be a car guy in California, I could be talked into moving there.

Overseas? I actually talked to the New Zealand consulate here in ATL in 2004, but was informed that I'd probably never make it through their points system for immigration. I probably would have considered Australia as well, but John Howard was their PM at the time.

I've never heard a bad word about the Altanta, NoGa area. Suppose I could do that if I had to.

Aside from that, there's not many other places in the US that I could see prying me out of Florida. Austin's cool (perhaps TOO cool), but everywhere else seems to have what would be serious negatives in my book (snow, high cost of living, etc.).

Outside the US, I could totally do Germany. I'd be all over Vancouver or Victoria (even though the snow would drive me crazy after a while), and maybe a Toronto suburb.

As much as I love the Caribbean, I'd probably go stir crazy after a while. If I had to, I'd say Aruba or Grand Cayman would be at the top of my list, though. They're really the closest to what I'm used to. Driving around some of the neighborhoods in Grand Cayman, you wouldn't know you weren't in Ft. Myers.

And even though it's in the same state, I could TOTALLY do Key Largo. Close enough to civilization that you don't feel isolated, but far enough away that you don't feel squeezed. And it's completely beyond the typical South Florida insanity.

jg

In all seriousness, for the snow haters, why don't you like it? Is it temperature, driving conditions, what?

JG Pasterjak wrote: I've never heard a bad word about the Altanta, NoGa area.

Traffic.

sachilles wrote: In all seriousness, for the snow haters, why don't you like it? Is it temperature, driving conditions, what?

My cargo shorts don't do well in the snow.

Also, it seems to accelerate the weathering of things that live outdoors.

Mot of all, though, I appreciate the fact that I can pretty much do whatever I want, whenever I want here. For me there's really only two seasons: Shorts and shorts with a hoodie.

jg

sachilles wrote: In all seriousness, for the snow haters, why don't you like it? Is it temperature, driving conditions, what?

yes. (to all)

I've lived in plenty of places with snow. I don't intend to do that again unless circumstances force me to.

I'm living where I want to be right now. Charlotte, Concord, Mooresville, NC triad area. Nice, very little snow, huge automotive aftermarket/racing environment and 8 hours in any direction gets me to almost all of the major race tracks on the east coast. Not having to deal with snow and ice for 3 or 4 months out of the year makes life soo much easier. If I had to leave the country, I think it'd be somewhere in Asia. Being a beach bum in Thailand sound like a nice way to retire. Watched a PBS show on a guy doing scuba tours in some truly beautiful islands. Been jealous of his life ever since.

sachilles wrote: In all seriousness, for the snow haters, why don't you like it? Is it temperature, driving conditions, what?

It's cold.

Right now I'm in Boston, and my answer to your questions is "anywhere else." I'll be moving to upstate NY this summer, but given a choice, all else being equal, I'd go back to Wisconsin without a second thought.

aussiesmg wrote:

sachilles wrote: In all seriousness, for the snow haters, why don't you like it? Is it temperature, driving conditions, what?

It's cold.

That's funny, I can't stand the heat!

JG Pasterjak wrote: Mot of all, though, I appreciate the fact that I can pretty much do whatever I want, whenever I want here.

For some of us, though, "whatever I want" involves "playing in the snow". And we only get to do that for a couple months out of the year, and we bitch mightily if it's a light season.

I mean, heck, if you want warm snowless weather, that's a day trip from just about anywhere in the country.

Not criticizing, after all we all have our own tastes. But a year without snow is like a day without sunshine.

sachilles wrote: In all seriousness, for the snow haters, why don't you like it? Is it temperature, driving conditions, what?

All the above, plus after 29.5 yrs of MI winters, I was sick of only a legit 4-6mo to do anything outside without a coat on, constantly being wet, and snow sucks period.

Rufledt wrote:

aussiesmg wrote:

sachilles wrote: In all seriousness, for the snow haters, why don't you like it? Is it temperature, driving conditions, what?

It's cold.

That's funny, I can't stand the heat!

I am an Aussie, bring on the Summer

JG Pasterjak wrote: I've never heard a bad word about the Altanta, NoGa area. Suppose I could do that if I had to. jg

Atlanta was pretty awesome. The traffic has gotten way worse since I left, so that's probably the biggest strike against it. Athens was pretty awesome, too. Mellow vibe, cheap cost of living. I still see killer deals on houses there. Start looking at farms a little outside of town, and then it gets really, really inexpensive.

For me, NYC might be the answer though. No car stuff, but it's still the greatest city in the world.

I'd go back to MS in a heartbeat as long as finding work isn't an issue. LA (Lower Alabama) wasn't bad either. The in-laws keep pointing out we should move closer to them in FL. All I know is I'm tired of winter, and this year it's been even worse than usual.

mtn wrote: Don't want to move out west, I don't like heat, and I do like winter. The place I'm in would be perfect if it had one or more of the following: A nice body of water, mountains, curvy roads, or rolling hills. The farmland gets pretty boring after awhile, but the place has a lot of other stuff going for it.

We have all of that where I live . OK, it tends to get warm in summer (around 100F) but it's a dry heat. Makes a big difference.

The main issue is that other than our local track, everything motorsports related is a minimum 4h drive.

I can deal with 100F without airconditioning.. but once it gets into the 50s.. do I really have to go outside?

What tends to annoy me is single-digit temperatures with no snow at all, like we had a few times this winter.

aussiesmg wrote:

Rufledt wrote:

aussiesmg wrote:

sachilles wrote: In all seriousness, for the snow haters, why don't you like it? Is it temperature, driving conditions, what?

It's cold.

That's funny, I can't stand the heat!

I am an Aussie, bring on the Summer

With my inability to handle heat and my pasty celtic skin I wouldn't last 10 minutes in australia without bursting into flames!

sachilles wrote: In all seriousness, for the snow haters, why don't you like it? Is it temperature, driving conditions, what?

Temperature. Rust. Shoveling. Rust. Snow brushes and everything they stand for. Rust. Frosty windshields. Rust. Salty carpet. Boots, coats, hats, gloves. Heat bills. Ice. Snow tires. Rust. Perpetually filthy cars.

Oh, and rust.

I just relocated to Northern Virginia in November. While it has it's benefits like great paying job and a neat area like Washington DC close by; and can't forget VIR, Summit Point, and NJ Motorsports Park all within like 4 hours, I just can't do without the beach being more than an hour and a half away. I'm ready to be back in Florida. Race tracks, beaches, weather, the keys, natural springs, lots of history, and family are all things that are attracting me back there. I miss salt water fishing too.

With that being said I'd pick a place that can support all of your hobbies and make you happy. We will most likely stick it out until this lease is up and I will try to transfer back to Florida unless this awesome thing I'm applying for works out.

Oh and did I recommend Florida? Crazy crap happens here but hey no state income tax, racing all year long, and beaches how can you go wrong? GRM HQ is there too!

I'd move to Colorado or the Northwest somewhere. I like mountains, i like skiing, i like scenery. I like being entertained. I find the Midwest incredibly boring. (but cheap.)

Vermont (anywhere) or Texas (San Antonio) get honorable mention.

Outside of the US? Sweden or Switzerland. Mountains, and batE36 M3 crazy insane car enthusiasts.

Out of country, Back to France. In country, berkeley the rest, I'm staying put in rural Indiana.

I don't like winter. Outdoor winter sports do nothing for me. If my in-laws (whom I like) weren't here we wouldn't be either.

I'd gladly move to western NC/eastern TN or KY but my wife hates humidity. I admit I'm no fan either but could tolerate it for the great roads and mild winters. Instead, I'm pushing for AZ or NM for the retirement years. I can drive old cars year round (with a/c installed), the days are sunny more often than not and there are a lot of motorcycling opportunities. Racing, yeah, not so much, but I think I'd be willing to give that up for a more leisurely motorsports life by that time.

Out of the country? New Zealand, hands down. Most beautiful place on the planet, and they do have some neat classic car events.

In reply to thestig99:
Then you need to move some place where it's colder. The salt won't work and you won't get much rust. Think Edmonton.